Episcopal Press and News
Church News Briefs
Diocesan Press Service. June 23, 1975 [75239]
BOSTON, Mass. -- Archbishop William W. Baum of Washington, D.C., told a two-day ecumenical conference on the Anglican-Roman Catholic "Windsor " and "Canterbury " statements of agreement on the Eucharist and the ministry that Christian church unity is the "will of God " and that division among Christians is a "scandal." Led by Bishop John M. Burgess of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and Cardinal Humberto Medeiros of Boston, the conference was commended as a working model for other parts of the country.
AMMAN, Jordan -- Anglican Assistant Bishop 'Aql Ibrahim 'Aql of Amman died here recently at the age of 57. He was consecrated in August, 1974, and was the designated successor to Bishop Najeeb Atallah Cubain of the Diocese of Jordan, Syria and Lebanon upon his retirement late this year or next. Anglicanism in the Middle East is currently under the Vicar General of the Jerusalem Archbishopric, Bishop Robert Stopford, who is the retired Bishop of London.
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- For the first time, the total membership of religious bodies in the U.S. showed a slight loss in 1974, reports the new Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches 1975, published in May by Abingdon Press. While more than half of the U.S. population holds formal membership in churches (roughly 61.9% in 1974) the percentage fell from the previous year's 62.4%. The actual count went from 1973's total of 131,424,564 to 1974's total of 131,245,139, or a loss of only 179,425 persons (-.14%). Population growth during that year was only .7%, possibly a contributing factor.
GREENWICH, Conn. -- Presiding Bishop John M. Allin celebrated the Eucharist at the opening session of the board of the Church Periodical Club, meeting at Seabury House, on June 10, the eve of the first anniversary of his inauguration as presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church. The board heard reports on its work during 1974 and began plans for the next triennial meeting of the Club in Minneapolis, Minn., Sept. 8-11, 1976, just prior to the opening of the Church's General Convention. Bishop Allin will be the guest speaker at the closing banquet of that meeting.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- The Very Rev. Richard Stanley Cutts, dean of St. Mary and All Saints Cathedral, Diocese of Mashonaland, Salisbury, Rhodesia, since 1971, was elected Anglican Bishop of Argentina on the fifth ballot at a special synod meeting here on May 31. A native of Buenos Aires, Dean Cutts, 56, studied at King's College, London. Most of his ministry has been in Africa. He and Mrs. Cutte have four children.
MIAMI, Fla. -- Nine young Episcopalians and their adult leaders from the Diocese of Southeast Florida left June 15 for three weeks in El Salvador where they will write, shoot, and produce a documentary film about Episcopal projects in the city of San Salvador and the surrounding countryside. The projects include an experimental farm, a health clinic and several mission churches.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Episcopal Diocese of Ohio has produced seven radio spots to help inform congregations about the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief. These messages, called "It's a Fact of Life," were produced by the communication department of the Diocese of Ohio, recorded by the CBS news director Randy Gerber, WKBN, Youngstown, from scripts by Helen Wood. The spots, recorded on cassettes, may be adapted by other dioceses who are interested. Information may be secured from the Diocese of Ohio, Communication Dept., 2230 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44115.
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The Episcopal Church is one of 10 churches planning an experimental program in which banks, properly authorized, will make monthly or quarterly payments directly to religious institutions. The project will also permit the use of Bank Americard or Master Charge for converting pledges. The plan is being developed by stewardship offices of the 10 churches and will be tested this fall in Atlanta, Dallas/ Fort Worth, Kansas City, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia.
WHEELING, W. Va. -- The board of governors of Appalachian Peoples Service Organization (APSO) recently presented citations of appreciation for the leadership of Bishop Wilburg C. Campbell of West Virginia and Mr. Woodrow W. Carter, Welfare Officer of the national staff. Mr. Carter was cited for his "skills as fund raiser, apologist, diplomat, observer, critic " and for his "quality of being a loving brother which makes your presence among us a cause for joy and celebration. " Bishop Campbell wa. commended as "shepherd, brother, teacher, and friend on this eve of the twenty-fifth anniversary of your consecration. "